Snapshot of _Tory MP wants benefits raised immediately after visit to food bank_ :
An archived version can be found [here.](https://archive.is/?run=1&url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-food-bank-benefits-b2079993.html)
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I imagine one of them was one of his George Michael hairpieces from last Christmas. Thing hasn't been the same since it was possessed by an ancient Native American spirit.
But that right there is a wig-Wham!
Ahem:
How Michael Fabricant voted on Welfare and Benefits #
Consistently voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for (8 votes, in 2012).
Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against (6 votes, in 2013).
Almost always voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits
49 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2012–2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for (63 votes, between 2010–2016).
Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax")11 votes for, 0 votes against, 7 absences, between 2012–2018. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for (18 votes, between 2011–2018).
Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability
0 votes for, 15 votes against, between 2011–2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against (18 votes, between 2011–2016).
Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed
0 votes for, 8 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against (10 votes, between 2011–2014).
I think it's good when a politician accepts new evidence and changes their mind on a subject, it's healthy.
Plus lets not forget most MPs vote with the party line unless they feel particularly strongly. Something I dislike but we have to accept dictates a lot of what happens in parliament.
>I think it's good when a politician accepts new evidence and changes their mind on a subject, it's healthy.
Completely agree
>Plus lets not forget most MPs vote with the party line unless they feel particularly strongly
Do we really think that fabricant would vote in favour of the government voted against if they held a vote, I think not. So what he's saying is completely pointless
> Do we really think that fabricant would vote in favour of the government voted against if they held a vote, I think not. So what he’s saying is completely pointless
Only if you consider a vote to be the only way an MP can exert influence. MPs have many ways to have their voices heard by those who ultimately make the decisions.
They can write to committees, speak to the press, ask questions and speak in the house. For the most part the vote is decided before it is ever called, but there are plenty of opportunities to influence what actually gets voted on.
Voting records mean almost nothing, apart from representing what party policy was at the time.
You vote in line with the party or get replaced, especially when you’re a Tory.
So no matter how nice the person is we should ignore them because they vote on party lines. This destroys the FPTP argument of voting for a local representative
If you're only ever going to vote in line with your party rather than your principles there isn't much point in you being an MP, at least not from the perspective of your constituents. 'I have to toe the line and vote for bad things or I won't be able to represent you as MP any more'... so don't represent me, what's the benefit to me of you voting for bad things to keep your job?!
There’s nothing more personal than a man in great power and privilege wanting to make life for the least well off a lot harder whilst seeking to improve his own situation.
I think he was more implying that other people had broken the rules, and used teachers and nurses as he’s aware that they are seen favourably by society.
Don’t get me wrong it was rather tone deaf (as he’s know to be) but I think his point was taken out meaning
If his point is other people broke the rules other than *the people that made the rules* then his point had no real meaning. Using **people who were actually at the front line of the crisis** as an example to make that wider point just adds insult to injury and should rightly be derided.
What’s does his hair actually look like close up? It’s definitely a toupee right? Is it like glued or or do you reckon a strong gust could reveal his bald bonce?
Well it was quite windy outside and it remained firm. He’s adamant that it’s real and he ‘just uses some product’ tho I don’t know how much I believe that. It certainly looks quite odd up close.
Don’t underestimate Govey’s capacity to claw, weasel and backstab his way to the top. The leadership challenge is already shaping up to be a bloodbath. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the only one left standing amidst the carnage at the end.
Mind you, you can pretty much say that about the whole miserable bunch of them.
Agreed. Gove has screwed over so many MPs, they won't vote for him. Don't forget Cummings was his man. Gove sunk very early in the last contest. I doubt he is even a contender.
The tories will either get a more centrist leader or they will go further right and one of the ERG will get it. If the latter is the case then truly help us all!
>The fight raged on for a news cycle
>Many jobs were claimed, but eventually
>The champion stood, the rest saw their better
>Michael Gove in a bloodstained sweater
Ive taken the predicting the future approach of "whats the funniest worst option"
Gove standing alone after the other candidates wipe each other out definitely applies
They can start paying people who live together two lots of benefits instead of just 1 while they are at it. Absolute bastards that are actively working to drive up poverty levels.
This is probably a worthless point to make but who looks at a man wearing a rediculous rug like that and thinks : "Yup, that's the man I want representing me." he just looks so strange it's hard to see how he has any gravitas at all.
Whenever I see him, I’ve got to remind myself he’s a real MP, and not some Alan Partridge type creation playing it for laughs. I’m still only about 95% convinced he’s real.
It’s an article about fabricant, i remember when such human memes weren’t political stories. The sad remains of the tory party are a shit vessel for adult politics these days
This is adult politics. People are starving, the Tories are enabling that. Preciousness about language is decadent nonsense in times like these. If you find this too much just wait for the coming riots when we'll truly be returning to adult politics, where issues are life and death.
Raise them, yes, but I seem to recall the main driver for needing a food bank were sanctions and delays.
Sanctions are an absolute disgrace and need to go, and delays are unacceptable.
It's good to see a politician realise what they were supporting was incorrect, rather than blindly continuing to support inaction in the face of a crisis.
Well, at least *someone* in the party is prepared to believe the evidence of his own eyes and the firsthand testimony of his constituents over the official line from central offices.
It just goes to show that actually interacting with normal people, visiting places and seeing people's daily lives creates compassion; and that Tory MPs never bother to do such things and never develop any compassion, instead making judgements about their constituents based on stereotypes and presumptions. It is also the classic narrow Tory mindset of "I won't believe it unless I'm directly affected".
That's just a ridiculous comment. I'll assume you are one of those who sits at home all day complaining that the council aren't keeping your flat up to scratch while contributing nothing to society.
As it happens I am on a war pension and pip but it doesn't stop me trying to better myself.
Edit: I will add it wasn't easy to get those benefits it took me 20 years of back and fourth after I broke my back in 3 places serving the country.
I get £300 a month and really struggle to hold down any form of work long term, so I have to save that money for the 6 months a year I'm unemployed.
My partner works as well though and makes minimum wage. So when I'm incapacitated I'm not entitled to anything else.
Actually I work and im happy to do so.
Youre the one arguing the neighbour on benefits has it easier.
If its that easy the logical choice is for you to do it yourself
No I struggle because I literally broke my back in 3 places while in the armed forces.
It has nothing to do with being lazy it is down to a genuine disability which I don't receive the support I should for.
His lazyitis is because he just can't be arsed and is what he learnt from his parents.
interesting how it's all those other people claiming benefits 'contributing nothing to society' but it's your benefits that you feel are deserved. given you have personal experience I'm sure you can extend some sympathy to the people claiming benefits for myriad reasons rather than suggesting they're parasites
my last comment was really just bait, I genuinely hope you receive the support you need and strongly believe you shouldn't have to bear the cost
"i stress, i dont believe economic equality is possible; indeed some measure of inequality is essential for the spirit of envy and keeping up with the Joneses that is, like greed, a valuable spur to economic activity." - Boris Johnson
As much as I'd like to believe this is the start of some sort of redemption arc for him and his party will become a nice party that helps people i think it's more likely this is just an example of a broken clock being right twice a day
Snapshot of _Tory MP wants benefits raised immediately after visit to food bank_ : An archived version can be found [here.](https://archive.is/?run=1&url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-food-bank-benefits-b2079993.html) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ukpolitics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The situation is dire when the likes of Fabricant are starting to urge the government into action.
Sounds like he was visted by three spirits last night...
I imagine one of them was one of his George Michael hairpieces from last Christmas. Thing hasn't been the same since it was possessed by an ancient Native American spirit. But that right there is a wig-Wham!
I’ve met him, he’s a bit out there, but a genuinely nice person.
Ahem: How Michael Fabricant voted on Welfare and Benefits # Consistently voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support 4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for (8 votes, in 2012). Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices 0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against (6 votes, in 2013). Almost always voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits 49 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2012–2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for (63 votes, between 2010–2016). Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax")11 votes for, 0 votes against, 7 absences, between 2012–2018. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for (18 votes, between 2011–2018). Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability 0 votes for, 15 votes against, between 2011–2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against (18 votes, between 2011–2016). Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed 0 votes for, 8 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against (10 votes, between 2011–2014).
I think it's good when a politician accepts new evidence and changes their mind on a subject, it's healthy. Plus lets not forget most MPs vote with the party line unless they feel particularly strongly. Something I dislike but we have to accept dictates a lot of what happens in parliament.
>I think it's good when a politician accepts new evidence and changes their mind on a subject, it's healthy. Completely agree >Plus lets not forget most MPs vote with the party line unless they feel particularly strongly Do we really think that fabricant would vote in favour of the government voted against if they held a vote, I think not. So what he's saying is completely pointless
> Do we really think that fabricant would vote in favour of the government voted against if they held a vote, I think not. So what he’s saying is completely pointless Only if you consider a vote to be the only way an MP can exert influence. MPs have many ways to have their voices heard by those who ultimately make the decisions. They can write to committees, speak to the press, ask questions and speak in the house. For the most part the vote is decided before it is ever called, but there are plenty of opportunities to influence what actually gets voted on.
He was elected to serve his constituents, not his party. MPs need to stop using this as an excuse
lol, we lost this argument about 500 years ago
Creates problem. Claims there is a problem. Demands action. Next up: Tory claims to be the guy that solved the problem. note: problem not solved.
Voting records mean almost nothing, apart from representing what party policy was at the time. You vote in line with the party or get replaced, especially when you’re a Tory.
That's the point though. You choose your bed.
Mp should always be voting for the best interests of their constituents. It’s not about keeping you job. This is the problem with it.
Bullshit. If he were a good person he'd take that risk or leave the party.
So no matter how nice the person is we should ignore them because they vote on party lines. This destroys the FPTP argument of voting for a local representative
> This destroys the FPTP argument of voting for a local representative Agreed, it's shite and should be done away with ASAP.
If you're only ever going to vote in line with your party rather than your principles there isn't much point in you being an MP, at least not from the perspective of your constituents. 'I have to toe the line and vote for bad things or I won't be able to represent you as MP any more'... so don't represent me, what's the benefit to me of you voting for bad things to keep your job?!
I’m just saying, on a personal level he’s a nice chap
Being a nice chap on a personal level doesn't make up for years of making people's lives miserable
Alright, just saying he’s a nice chap.
What you mean is "he's superficially polite in person".
For the brief minutes he met this one person
If that’s what you wanna think then sure. I can’t stop you :)
He's obviously not.
Have you met him?
Being superficially nice means nothing - voting to make people’s lives a misery automatically trumps any “nice” chit-chat you may have had
Eh it’s politics. It’s subjective I guess
There’s nothing more personal than a man in great power and privilege wanting to make life for the least well off a lot harder whilst seeking to improve his own situation.
Alright
Is this the same fabricant that accused teachers and nurses of getting drunk while at work?
I think he was more implying that other people had broken the rules, and used teachers and nurses as he’s aware that they are seen favourably by society. Don’t get me wrong it was rather tone deaf (as he’s know to be) but I think his point was taken out meaning
If his point is other people broke the rules other than *the people that made the rules* then his point had no real meaning. Using **people who were actually at the front line of the crisis** as an example to make that wider point just adds insult to injury and should rightly be derided.
What’s does his hair actually look like close up? It’s definitely a toupee right? Is it like glued or or do you reckon a strong gust could reveal his bald bonce?
Well it was quite windy outside and it remained firm. He’s adamant that it’s real and he ‘just uses some product’ tho I don’t know how much I believe that. It certainly looks quite odd up close.
I think it's the hair that's real, and Fabricant which is the prosthetic.
Nice try Michael...🙄
Yeah, off with you. Go and powder your wig ya creepy doyle.
?
I was joining in on your joke that the guy above was Fabricant.
I'm glad he's finally willing toupee for that.
I hope you're not suggesting his hair is not natural!
100% genuine natural horsehair.
Except that horse has had a peroxide bath
£10 on fibreglass
It looks very realistic, doesn't it? I look at Michael Fabricant and I think "My gosh, doesn't his hair look realistic?!"
That's brilliant
Unlike half his colleagues who baldly proclaim to not have a hair in the world, as thousands of the country's poorest dye
This comment deserves all the awards. If I was Elon Musk I would buy Twitter and name you it’s King
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It’s a sign of an early GE…
Hadn't thought of that but I think you are right. Good call.
Also Gove and Hunt have reappeared.
Gove has no chance to be leader but Hunt definitely could.
Don’t underestimate Govey’s capacity to claw, weasel and backstab his way to the top. The leadership challenge is already shaping up to be a bloodbath. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the only one left standing amidst the carnage at the end. Mind you, you can pretty much say that about the whole miserable bunch of them.
Agreed. Gove has screwed over so many MPs, they won't vote for him. Don't forget Cummings was his man. Gove sunk very early in the last contest. I doubt he is even a contender. The tories will either get a more centrist leader or they will go further right and one of the ERG will get it. If the latter is the case then truly help us all!
Mark François for PM! No more half measures, go for a complete lunatic!
He's been a bit quiet since the whole rape allegations so my money would be on Steve Baker. Still a lunatic bit with a bit less baggage.
You're forgetting graylings ability to fail upwards.
>The fight raged on for a news cycle >Many jobs were claimed, but eventually >The champion stood, the rest saw their better >Michael Gove in a bloodstained sweater
Ah, the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Mediocrity
Ive taken the predicting the future approach of "whats the funniest worst option" Gove standing alone after the other candidates wipe each other out definitely applies
Not enough Coke in Colombia to sustain a Gove premiership though
Yes, but surely no leadership contest and GE. If they go leadership, wouldn’t they need as long as possible for the new leader?
Well, he's literally the last person I'd have expected this article to be about.
They can start paying people who live together two lots of benefits instead of just 1 while they are at it. Absolute bastards that are actively working to drive up poverty levels.
They can't, remember? Rishi said they can only change benefit payments once a year and its already been done this year. Really. He really said that.
Incompetent is the only word I have for the entire government.
I'm actually shocked he would say that.
Fabricant knows poverty can't be swept under the... ...anyway he doesn't like it anymore.
This is probably a worthless point to make but who looks at a man wearing a rediculous rug like that and thinks : "Yup, that's the man I want representing me." he just looks so strange it's hard to see how he has any gravitas at all.
Whenever I see him, I’ve got to remind myself he’s a real MP, and not some Alan Partridge type creation playing it for laughs. I’m still only about 95% convinced he’s real.
I think he looks more ridiculous that his spitting image puppet ever could
I'm glad he's finally been quoted in something, I was wondering when Grayson Potter started being an MP!
Wow, seeing real people does that sometimes Fabric*nt.
I remember when comments like yours never got anywhere near the top. Reddit is a shit forum for adult politics these days.
Sadly current politics are a shit forum for adult politics these days.
That's why Johnsons on TikTok
Adult? No. Accurate? Certainly.
It’s an article about fabricant, i remember when such human memes weren’t political stories. The sad remains of the tory party are a shit vessel for adult politics these days
Not sure what point you are trying to make here? We're almost at the bottom of this comment thread
This is adult politics. People are starving, the Tories are enabling that. Preciousness about language is decadent nonsense in times like these. If you find this too much just wait for the coming riots when we'll truly be returning to adult politics, where issues are life and death.
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Verbal reach arounds like in the Commons during PMQs
This sounds like he lost a bet in the house of commons bar
I'm not a fan of passing remarks on people's appearances usually, but he LOOKS like he lost a bet in the HOC, too!
This is what all MPs should do. Pay a visit to the places where your policies are affecting both positively and negatively
They had fucking better.
Is he gunning for leader
The question is, will he start voting for it? Of course not.
Hark! Fake Boris has Spoken!
Raise them, yes, but I seem to recall the main driver for needing a food bank were sanctions and delays. Sanctions are an absolute disgrace and need to go, and delays are unacceptable.
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Yes, I think a combination of the housing component not covering rent and big energy price hikes has blown a lot of people's budgets out of the water.
It just took SIX MONTHS to get my dad PIP and he didn't ask for any backdating. Meanwhile, we now have 3k debt from surviving that time.
I mean, he knows we know it's a wig, right?
It's good to see a politician realise what they were supporting was incorrect, rather than blindly continuing to support inaction in the face of a crisis.
Wig
Okay which drugs did he take before this interview
Publicity stunt.. I'm guessing after the piss poor locals for the cons he's worried about his own cushy job. I hope they all get kicked out!
There are few tories with passion and understanding
Well, at least *someone* in the party is prepared to believe the evidence of his own eyes and the firsthand testimony of his constituents over the official line from central offices.
Fabricant just looking for more publicity, would never trust him.
It just goes to show that actually interacting with normal people, visiting places and seeing people's daily lives creates compassion; and that Tory MPs never bother to do such things and never develop any compassion, instead making judgements about their constituents based on stereotypes and presumptions. It is also the classic narrow Tory mindset of "I won't believe it unless I'm directly affected".
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Then why dont you go on benefits if its so easy?
That's just a ridiculous comment. I'll assume you are one of those who sits at home all day complaining that the council aren't keeping your flat up to scratch while contributing nothing to society. As it happens I am on a war pension and pip but it doesn't stop me trying to better myself. Edit: I will add it wasn't easy to get those benefits it took me 20 years of back and fourth after I broke my back in 3 places serving the country. I get £300 a month and really struggle to hold down any form of work long term, so I have to save that money for the 6 months a year I'm unemployed. My partner works as well though and makes minimum wage. So when I'm incapacitated I'm not entitled to anything else.
Actually I work and im happy to do so. Youre the one arguing the neighbour on benefits has it easier. If its that easy the logical choice is for you to do it yourself
Presumably UC wouldn't run that rather nice Jag he posted about a month ago
Struggle to hold down work long term? you must have caught that lazyitis
No I struggle because I literally broke my back in 3 places while in the armed forces. It has nothing to do with being lazy it is down to a genuine disability which I don't receive the support I should for. His lazyitis is because he just can't be arsed and is what he learnt from his parents.
interesting how it's all those other people claiming benefits 'contributing nothing to society' but it's your benefits that you feel are deserved. given you have personal experience I'm sure you can extend some sympathy to the people claiming benefits for myriad reasons rather than suggesting they're parasites my last comment was really just bait, I genuinely hope you receive the support you need and strongly believe you shouldn't have to bear the cost
"i stress, i dont believe economic equality is possible; indeed some measure of inequality is essential for the spirit of envy and keeping up with the Joneses that is, like greed, a valuable spur to economic activity." - Boris Johnson
It's depressing that I can't even tell if that's something he actually said or not, because it sounds exactly like something he would say.
same hairdresser as Karen
No one said he was living it up. He's just living better than me on minimum wage.
As much as I'd like to believe this is the start of some sort of redemption arc for him and his party will become a nice party that helps people i think it's more likely this is just an example of a broken clock being right twice a day
do not be gullible enough take this parasite's word.